How to talk about a hobby when you don’t know the vocabulary
Start with why you got into it. You can tell how you broke your first camera or learned your first song without knowing every technical term.
Keep important words clear when captions miss themBring one thing the other person can react to
Use a sketch, a score without private notes or a photo you’re happy to share. Explain why it matters. Ask the same question back: “What did your first attempt look like?” A concrete object gives you somewhere to point if a word gets stuck.
Describe the job of an unfamiliar part
Instead of stopping at “tripod,” say “the three legs that hold the camera still.” Ask them to write the word if you want to keep it. If they describe their hobby back, try their technique: explain what you think the object does and let them correct your understanding.